Water closet



Dec. 12, 1933. w. E. HINSDALE WATER CLOSET 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1950 Dec. 12, 1933. w. E. HINSDALE WATER CLOSET Filed July 14, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 12,1933. w E, ls 1,939,118

WATER CLOSET Filed July 14, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented 12, 1933 WATER CLOSET Winfield E. Hinsdale, Trenton, N. 1., assignor to The Trenton Potteries 00., Trenton, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 14, 1930. Serial No. 467,749

11 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in water closets and more particularly to the type in which a tank or reservoir is provided for supplying the necessary flushing water under suitable conditions.

It has .been a primary object of the invention to construct an apparatus of this sort in which the unsightliness of a seperate tank above the level of the closet is eliminated without in any way impairing the efliciency and reliability of operation of the unit. The tank or water reservoir, according to my invention, is fitted to the seat structure in such a way that it is substantially integral therewith and in fact it may be made integral if desired. Unsightly exterior pipe connections are avoided in this way; the overall height of the unit is greatly lowered and noise of operation is reduced to the Heretofore attempts have been made to lower the position of the tanks of the closet units but these have not proved satisfactory due to the fact that the flushing action has not been properly conducted and an unsanitary condition has arisen. Where storage tanks have been eliminated altogether and direct use made of the pressure water lines for flushing purposes the units have been so noisy in operation and have requiredsuch peculiar pressure conditions as to make them suited only to special installations such as in office buildings, apartment houses and the like.

An important feature of the present invention is in the provision of a tank having several compartments so that water may be seperately with drawn and applied to different uses. One body 5 of water may be made available for use in a jet at the bottom of the bowl to bring about the desired siphon, or ejector, action while another body of water may be used to supply the rim of the bowl to effect the rim-flush action. The construction is such that a suitable water head is provided on the bodies of water reserved for such purpose. As a further feature of this phase of the invention, provision is made for the retarding of the rim-flushing action until after the siphon action has been initiated. For this purpose seperate valves and operating mechanisms are employed for controlling the jet and the rim feeds and operation of the rim feed valve is placed under the control of the supply of water in the jet feed section of the tank, by the provision of suitable float mechanism. This relation between the two water supplies serves to insure proper flushing action at all times.

Another feature of the present construction is the maintenance of substantial continuity between the body of water standing within the bowl structure of the unit and that in the jet feed portion of the tank. A very small, practically negligible, air pocket at the location of the valve which holds back the jet feed supply and the thickness of the tank floor at this point is all that seperates these two bodies of water. This construction insures an extremely quiet action of the unit. To

further aid in producing a quiet operation, a splash cup construction is employed in connection with the intake pipe for refilling of the tank.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the improved construction will be made clear from the detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the closet with parts broken away along several different planes;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the tank structure, with the cover removed, and a. portion of the seat with the lid removed; 8

Figure 4 isa vertical section through the tank taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, but with parts broken away to disclose features in rear of this section;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 but discloses a modified structure in which the tank is formed separately from the bowl, and

Figure 6 is a detail view of a threaded element used in attaching the parts.

Referring now to the drawings, the closet umt consists of two primary sections, including a tank 10 for storing the required amount of water and a seat or bowl 11 supported on a base or standard 12.

Inthe construction of the unit any suitable material may be employed but preferably china. clay, commonly used in the pottery industry, is employed and provided with a glazing or enamel on all exposed surfaces. The usual practice in the production of pottery may be followed in the formation of the various portions of the unit. In the preferred form of the invention, the tank and bowl or seat will be formed integrally, leaving as separable units only the lid for the tank and the covers for the seat. In the course of manufacture, however, the several portions of the unit will be separately moldedand then fitted togethed while still in a plastic state to permit union, as by cohesion, of the adjoining surfaces. For example, the tank will preferably be molded 110 as a separate unit in the preliminary stages while rately molded. when the parts are still in a plastic state the tank will be placed upon the bowl by resting the mid-portion of the lower surface of the tank, indicated at 13 in Figure 2, upon the upper free end of the rear wall of the bowl and resting a bevelled or arcuate surface at the point 14 of the tank upon a similarly formed surface of the adjacent wall of the bowl. Similar points of joinder will be provided at particular locations selected in such a way as to facilitate the production of the diiferent parts of the unit to the greatest extent possible. For

example a further point of union may occur along the line designated 15. Similarly in the construction of the bowl itself the rim 16 is separately formed and applied while in a plastic state to the bowl proper. This enables the production of a large, continuous, rim-feed channel 17 around the entire length of the rim. It also allows for the provision of the feeding openings 1 or slot 18 through which the water is discharged from the rim. Other parts, such as the large waterways at the two sides of the bowl proper, which will be referred to more particularly hereinafter, are necessarily formed as separate units and applied in the plastic state to the main structure. The interior construction of the bowl is such as to provide a forward, interior surface 19 of suitable contour which joins the apex of a V with an inclined, interior surface 20 terminating at a point 21, which determines the normal standing water level within the bowl. An intermediate wall section 22, extending downwardly into the bowl from the rear, and which merges at the sides with the forward wall 19 but leaves an opening at the bottom, provides a channel with the wall 20 of suitable cross sectional area to permit proper discharge of the water from the bowl. Near the bottom of the wall section 19 an opening 23 is provided to permit the jetting of water through the channel mentioned between the walls 20 and 22, forcing a portion of the water from the bowl over the edge 21 into a substantially vertical leg 24, which is connected by an outlet 25 to the soil pipe system and producing a siphon action, in the well known manner, which results in complete withdrawal of the bowl contents.

In the installation of the unit it will be understood that the surface 26 at the bottom of the pedestal l2 rests upon the floor and serves to support the closet.

A reservoir 27 is formed at the rear of the bowl andconnected by relatively wide waterways 28 bulging from the sides of the bowl, as shown in Figure l. The upper and lower limits of these channels are indicated in dotted outline at 29 and 30 in Figure 2. At their lower ends these waterways communicate with and are connected by a cross channel 31. The jet 23 is in direct line with substantially the midpoint of this cross channel 31.

The tank of the unit is provided with the usual cover or lid 35 formed of the same material. At about the midpoint from front to rear of the tank a partition wall 36 is provided. A horizontal partition or floor 3'7 is formed completely across the tank at a slight elevation within the forward compartment of the latter, the elevation of this floor being preferably at the level of the top portion of the rim of the bowl. The partition wall 36 extends entirely across the tank down to the level of the floor 3'1 but-below this floor the partition is comparatively narrow and in eifect constitutes merely the rear wall 38 of a eway 39 immediately below the forward compartment of the tank at a central section of the latter. In this way two lower pockets 40 and 41, below the forward compartment 42 of the tank, are left in communication with the rear compartment 43 so that a reservoir of substantial capacity is provided, The compartment 42 is accordingly of comparatively small capacity.

Provision is made for discharging the contents of the compartment 43 and the pockets 40 and 41 into the reservoir 2'7 whenever desired. For this purpose a ball-float-valve 44 is provided to normally close an opening in the floor of the rear compartment of the tank. This valve may be raised to permit discharge of the water from the compartment 43 upon depression of a suitable button 45 extending through the cover for the tank. The operative connections for this purpose may be of any suitable or conventional form and may, for example, consist of a rod 46 extending upwardly from the valve and suitably guided by a bracket 47 which is suspended from the top of the partition wall 36. A wire link 48, having a hook passing through an opening in a lever 49 may have a loop adapted to co-operate with the head of the rod 46 to lift the latter and the valve upon counter clockwise movement of the lever as shown in Figure 4. The button 45 may be adapted to rock an arm 50 which is suitably connected to the pivot of the lever 49 for rocking the same. When the valve 44 is raised, the water in the compartments 40, 41 and 43 of the tank, together with that portion of the water above the partition wall 36 in the compartment 42, will be discharged into the reservoir 27 and under the head of the water in the tank, water will be forced through the jet 23 to produce the siphon action previously explained. It will be noted that only a small air pocket is provided between the underside of the valve 44 and the surface of the water in the reservoir 2'1. This will serve to eliminate the major portion of the noise which is developed in systems in which a comparatively great distance and correspondingly large air pocket exists between these two bodies of water.

The contents of the compartment 42, with the exception of that above the upper edge of the wall 36, is intended to be discharged through the rim of the bowl. In the operation of the unit it is desirable to retard the discharge of the water through the rim until after the siphon action has been initiated by the jet, otherwise there is danger of flooding the bowl and a part of the jet head-pressure may be destroyed. Furthermore, it is desirable to quite nicely time the operation of the flush rim discharge, since the water from the jet after having ejected the bowl content is no longer able to fill the siphon leg and requires the added water from the rim to keep the water level just above the edge or end of wall 22 or entrance lip of the trap to prevent admission of air to the trap crown and a breakage of the siphon action, which would cause a failure of action and full removal of bowl content.

The present invention contemplates the provision of means for properly timing the action of the rim feed. For this purpose a valve in the form of a disk 55, adapted to co-operate with a valve seat 56, may be carried at the lower end of a vertically movable pipe or tube 57 which may also serve as the over-flow standpipe of the tank. The latter may be connected by a yoke 5 t0 the forward arm of a lever 59 pivoted upon a bracket 60, which may conveniently be integral with the suspension for the bracket 47. At the opposite end of the lever 59 there'may be provided a float 81 which is adapted to be partially or completely submerged in the water within the compartment 43. As shown, this float is preferably elongated in cross section so as to fit within the space available. Now, as the water level within the compartment 43 drops, the float 81 will sink and the tube 57, together with the valve 55, will be lifted. Any desired amount of lost play my be provided between the lever 59'and the tube 57. However, it will be found that under normal circumstances the delay in action of the float in lifting the tube will give the desired timing. It will be apparent that the tube and valve will not be lifted until the loss of buoyancy of entire circumference.

the float is equal to the excess weight of the tube and valve structure. For the purpose of properly guiding the tube as it is lifted, it may be provided with a sleeve 62 attached by suitable wings or extensions to the diametrically opposite points of the tube at which the yoke 58 is attached. This sleeve may co-operate with a rod 63 for extending upwardly from a hub 64 disposed centrally within the fitting provided with the valve seat 56. Any suitable means may be provided for securing this fitting in place; for example a ring-nut 65, of the form shown in Figure 6, may be employed. This element is provided with extensions which may be passed through suitable slots or grooves in the edge of the opening in the bottom of the compartment 42 and it may then be turned slightly until arrested, for example, by a small projection on the under side of the floor 37. The fitting may then be turned by a spanner wrench, or the like, until it is properly tightened up against a suitable washer or gasket 66. When the valve 55 is lifted in the manner indicated, the water in compartment 4 will be discharged into the channel 39 and will flow from the latter through an opening 67 into the passage 17 of the rim. From the latter the water is discharged through the slit or openings 18 against the inner wall of the bowl around its This rim flushing action is brought about at just the appropriate time through the delayed action of the mechanism explained. Furthermore, an adequate and definite supply of water is provided for rim flushing purposes by this arrangement. This is not the case with prior constructions, in which the rim is fed by means of a side stream from the same source as the jet, or by diverting a'portion of the ball cock refill water by piping of the same to the rim.

Refilling of the tank may be effected in the usual way; for example, a fitting 70 adapted to be attached to the usual pressure water line may extend through the bottom of the tank and may be provided near its upper end with a ballcheck-valve 71. The introduction of the ballcheck-valve at this point makes it possible to include it as a part of assembly of fittings so that it may not be left to the installing individual to omit it. The valve is very necessary, in low pressures, to prevent siphoning-back of the tank contents into the water supply lines, if, and when,

draft on the lines, greater than the supply, causes a vacuum in the upper parts of the piping systems. A pipe 72 connected to the fitting above the check-valve may serve to convey the water to a valve chamber 73 having a float-controlled valve therein. This valve may be operated by a plunger 74 connected to the midpoint of a lever '15 fulcrumed' at 76 to the valve housing and connected at its opposite end by a link 77 to a two armed lever 78. The latter, which is pivoted at 79 on a suitable bracket, is connected at 80 to a rod 81 which carries at its opposite end a float 82. The latter, as shown in Figure 3, in lieu of being spherical as in the ordinary constructions, is flattened to permit its insertion within the compartment 43. As the water level within the compartment 43 drops, the lever 78 is rocked clockwise and serves to rock the lever 75 counter clockwise to lift the plunger 74 and open the valve within the housing 73. This will permit the flow of water through the housing and into adownwardly extending pipe 83 which discharges the water into a splash-pot 84 having openings 85 therein. Water is thus introduced into the tank through the openings 85 in a substantially noiseless manner. The water will first fill the pockets 40 and 41 and compartment 43 and then after reaching the top of the partition 36 will spill into the compartment 42. In the meantime the float 61 will have been lifted to close the valve 55. When the two compartments have been filled to a suitable level just a short 1 distance above the partition 36 the float 82 will close oil the water supply valve. Overflow which may occur at some time, due to improper functioning of the ball cock supply valve, will be cared for through the interior of the tube or stand- 1 pipe 57.

Refill to bowl through the rim may be effected from the rim chamber in the tank through one or two small holes 371 in the floor 37, which holes will serve to deliver water slowly into the for- 1 ward compartment 42, while the ball-check valve is filling the rear compartment or jet chamber 43 and the pockets 40 and 41 and before the valve 55 has been returned to its seat. This water flows over the seat of valve 55 into the rim l7 1 of the bowl providing a clean water refill while the tank is filling for the next operation. The co-ordination of the various portions of the unit is believed to be so clear from the foregoing detailed description that a summary of operation is thought to be unnecessa In Figure 5 there is shown a slightly modified construction in which the tank and bowl proper of the unit are formed separately so that they may be so shipped to the assembled. The principal differences in construction reside in the provision of extra partition walls between the tank and bowl at various points. For example, in lieu of the single wall and the tank at the base of the compartment 43 there is provided the two partitions 91 and 92 and similarly the forward compartment of the tank is provided with a fioor 93 separate from the upper partition 94 of the bowl. Aligned open- 1 ings 95 and 96 are provided in the partitions 91 and 92 to permit the insertion of any suitable form of attachment 97. The latter may be held in position and tightened by the use of a ringnut 98, similar to the one shown in Figure 6. Turning of the fitting 97 will serve to bring the tank and bowl together and will squeeze the packing material 99 to form a tight joint. The ball-fioat-valve mechanism for controlling the discharge to the jet will be modified slightly to co-operate with the valve seat provided by the fitting 97 in lieu of direct co-operation with the floor of the tank.

As a further means of attaching the tank to the bowl, the valve seat fitting for the rim feed 1 point 'of use and there or floor provided in Figure 1 between the bowl valve will be of somewhat longer construction than in the first form disclosed. This fitting 100 may be adapted to receive a ring-nut 101, similar to that disclosed in Figure 6, and may be turned in any suitable way to tighten up the joint by forcing the shoulder 102 against the upper surface of the partition wall 93 and squeezing the rubber gasket or washer 103 against the top of the rim. As in the first embodiment of the invention, this-fitting provides a valve seat 104 and is provided with a guide-rod 105 for guiding the longitudinal movements of the combined standpipe and valve, of the type shown in Figures 2 and 4.

While an admirable form of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention. The terms which have been employed herein are to be considered merely as descriptive of the illustrative form 0! the invention and are not to be considered as imposing any limitations thereon.

What I claim is:

1. In a water closet a jet, a flushing-rim, a storage tankfor supplying water by gravity to said jet and rim, separate valves for controlling the supply to said jet and rim, and means responsive to the operation of said jet for subsequently opening said rim controlling valve.

2. In a water closet a jet, a flushing rim, a tank for supplying water by gravity to said jet and rim, separate valves for controlling discharge to said jet and rim, manual means for operating said jet controlling valve, and means responsive to the discharge of water to said jet for opening said rim controlling valve.

3. In a water closet a jet, a flushing rim, separate reservoirs for supplying water by gravity to said jet and rim, a valve in each of said reservoirs, manual means for operting one of said valves, and means responsive to the Water level in the reservoir related to said valve for opening the other of said valves. I

4. In a water closet a bowl having a siphon jet and a flushing rim, a tank attached directly to said bowl, said tank having separate compartments for supplying water by gravity to said jet and rim, and means for controlling the feed of water to said jet and rim, said means including a float in the jet supply compartment for governing the feed to the rim.

5. In a water. closet a bowl having a siphon jet and a flushing rim, a dual compartment tank attached to said bowl, a manually operable valve in one of said compartments for controlling the discharge of water by gravity to said jet a separate valve for controlling discharge by gravity from the other compartment to said rim, and means controlled by a float suspended in said first mentioned compartment for operating said separate valve.

6. In a water closet a bowl having a siphon trap and a flushing rim, an ejector jet in the up-leg of said trap, a dual compartment tank attached to said bowl one compartment of said tank serving to feed water by gravity directly to said trap through said ejector jet and the other compartment to said rim, said other compartment being completely above said rim and discharging stored waterto and through said rim continuously during the flushing operation, discharge valves for controlling said feed, means for refilling said first mentioned compartment, and openings between said compartments for supplying refill water to said rim feed compartment.

'7. In a water closet having a siphon trap a tank having two water storage compartments adapted to retain water for a complete flushing operation, one of said compartments being botiomed near normal water level in the bowl and receiving all incoming water supply and the other being bottomed above the top of the rim and being filled by overflow from the first mentioned compartment, an ejector jet in the up-leg of the siphon, a flushing rim, a connec.ion from one 01 said compartments to said jet, and a connection from the other of said compartments to said rim producing in operation independent action on the jet and rim by the retained water only.

8. In a water closet a bowl having a jet and a flushing rim, a storage tank for supplying water by gravity to said jet and rim, separate valves for controlling the supply to said jet and rim, and means for holding the rim supply valve open until the jet supply valve is closed and said tank is partially refilled.

9. In a water closet a bowl having a jet and a fiushing rim, a dual compartment storage tank for supplying water by gravity to said jet and rim, a valve in each of said compartments for controlling discharge of water to said jet and rim respectively, manual means for controlling the operation of said valves, and a float in the jet supply compartment adapted to hold the rim control valve open so long as the water level in said compartment is below a predetermined point.

10. In a water closet a bowl having .a jet and a flushing rim, 9. dual compartment storage tank for supplying water by gravity to said jet and rim, a valve in each of said compartments for controlling discharge of water to said jet and rim respectively, manual means for controlling the operation otsaid valves, and a float in the jet supply compartment for controlling the closing of the rim control valve.

11. In a water closet a bowl having an oval water surface and siphon trap, an ejector jet in the up-leg of the siphon, a flushing rim around the top of said bowl, a divided tank mounted directly on said bowl with its top less than twice the elevation of said rim, said tank having a portion of its bottom at substantially standing water level in said bowl and another portion of its bottom above the top of said rim, separate valves in said bottom portions for controlling discharge of water to said jet and rim respectively, and means for holding said rim discharge controlling valve open after said jet controlling valve has been seated.

WINFIELD E. HINSDALE. 

